5 Plead Guilty in Multi-State Dog Fighting Op (Learn More, Video)

New Jersey and Chicago-Area Defendants Convicted As Part of Operation Grand Champion (Image courtesy of the Humane Society of the United States)

Four defendants pleaded guilty this week to federal charges for their roles in an inter-state dog fighting network spanning from New Mexico to New Jersey, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey H. Wood of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, and Acting United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey William E. Fitzpatrick.

A fifth defendant pleaded guilty in June.

U.S. District Judge Mary L. Cooper in Trenton accepted the following pleas:

Anthony “Monte” Gaines

Gaines, 36, of Vineland, New Jersey, a/k/a “Whiteboy,” pleaded guilty yesterday to two felony counts of conspiracy to buy, sell, receive, transport, deliver, and possess dogs intended for use in an animal fighting venture, and one felony count of possessing a dog intended for use in an animal fighting venture.

Lydell Harris

Harris, 32, of Vineland, New Jersey, a/k/a “Sinn,” pleaded guilty yesterday to one felony count of conspiracy to sponsor or exhibit a dog in an animal fighting venture, and one felony count of possessing a dog intended for use in an animal fighting venture.

Frank Nichols

Nichols, 40, of Millville, New Jersey, pleaded guilty today to one felony count of conspiracy to transport, deliver and receive dogs intended for use in an animal fighting venture, and one felony count of possessing a stolen firearm subsequent to a felony conviction.

Pedro Cuellar

Cuellar, 47, of Willow Springs, Illinois, pleaded guilty today to one felony count of conspiracy to transport, deliver, and receive dogs intended for use in an animal fighting venture.

Mario Atkinson

Atkinson, 42, of Asbury Park, New Jersey, pleaded guilty on June 15, 2017 before Judge Anne E. Thompson in U.S. District Court in Trenton to one count of sponsoring or exhibiting a dog in an animal fighting venture, and one count of possessing a dog intended for use in an animal fighting venture.

(Learn More. WARNING: Graphic Video. A four month-long investigation led to the rescue of 50 dogs from a suspected dogfighting operation in Sevier County, Tennessee, and the arrest of three people. Courtesy of The Humane Society of the United States and YouTube)

Nichols and Harris pleaded guilty to indictments. Gaines, Cuellar, and Atkinson were charged with Bills of Information. Charges remain pending against four defendants.

A Part of Operation Grand Champion

According to court documents filed in connection with the cases, from October 2015 through June 1, 2016, the pleading defendants and their co-defendants and associates fought dogs – including to the death – and trafficked in dogs with other dog fighters in Indiana, Illinois, New Mexico, and elsewhere so that those dogs could be used in dog fights.

They also maintained fighting dogs and dog fighting equipment such as dog treadmills, intravenous drug bags and lines, “breeding stands” used to immobilize female dogs, and chains weighing up to several pounds per linear foot.

Agents found canine blood on the floor, walls, and ceiling of the basement of one defendant’s residence, indicating that the area was likely used as a dog fighting pit.

“Animal fighting ventures are violent and unlawful,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey H. Wood of the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division.

Among other acts involved in the charges, one of the pleading defendants admitted that his dog died in his car on the way home after losing a dog fight.

“Justice is being delivered in these cases,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Wood.

“Ending animal fighting ventures and other inhumane practices depends upon the hard work of investigators and lawyers like those who brought these cases, and will also require continued partnership with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.”

“Our Division is proud to be a leader in this worthy cause. We also applaud the work of the Humane Society in partnering with us to provide hope of recovery for the abused animals.”

Acting US Attorney for the District of NJ William E. Fitzpatrick

“The criminal conduct speaks to the cruel conditions in which these animals live,” Acting U.S. Attorney Fitzpatrick said.

“This office, along with our law enforcement partners and the Humane Society, is working to end this illegal activity and punish those who abuse animals for their own enjoyment.”

“The provisions of the Animal Welfare Act were designed to protect animals from being used in illegal fighting ventures, which often entail other forms of criminal activity involving drugs, firearms and gambling,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Bethanne M. Dinkins of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General.

“Together with the Department of Justice, animal fighting is an investigative priority for USDA-OIG, and we will work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and assist in the criminal prosecution of those who participate in animal fighting ventures.”

This case is part of Operation Grand Champion, a coordinated effort across numerous federal judicial districts to combat organized dog fighting.

(Learn More. WARNING: Graphic content. Dog fighting is one of the gravest and most violent forms of animal cruelty imaginable. It is for this reason that dog fighting is a felony in all 50 states. Courtesy of the ASPCA and YouTube)

The phrase “Grand Champion” is used by dog fighters to refer to a dog with more than five dog fighting “victories.”

To date, 98 dogs have been rescued as part of Operation Grand Champion, and either surrendered or forfeited to the government.

The government is represented by Trial Attorney Ethan Eddy of the Justice Department’s Environmental Crimes Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen O’Leary.

The case is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Each animal fighting charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The weapons charge against defendant Nichols carries a maximum sentence of ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The investigation is ongoing.

In 2014, the Department of Justice designated the Environment and Natural Resources Division as the centralized body within the Department responsible for tracking, coordinating, and working with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices on animal cruelty enforcement matters.

About the Animal Welfare Litigation Program

Together with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) lawyers are working to ensure that full effect is given to the federal statutes and enforcement regimes that provide for the humane treatment of captive, farmed, and companion animals across the United States.

The principal federal agency that ENRD represents in this area is the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

(See the ASPCA on ground in Huntersville, NC, assisting law enforcement with the rescue and removal of 23 dogs from a property where they were allegedly used for fighting. Courtesy of the ASPCA and YouTube)

Where appropriate, ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section (ECS) brings criminal prosecutions under these laws against, for example, people who are involved in the illegal blood sport of dog fighting.

In these cases, ECS works with investigatory agents from the Department of Agriculture’s Office of the Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other law enforcement agencies.

ENRD now has Departmental responsibility for affirmative litigation arising from the Nation’s animal protection laws, including:ENRD’s Wildlife and Marine Resources Section (WMRS) brings civil judicial enforcement actions that support and complement the administrative enforcement actions taken by the relevant federal agencies, including the Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

WMRS can also pursue civil remedies, such as civil forfeiture in animal-fighting cases.